Parasol-frame



(No Moel.)

H. M. RICHARDSUN.

- PARASOL FRAME. Y

Patented Apr. 8, 188,4;

. INVENTOR WITNESS ES:

Unirse Sterns Aralar erica,

HERY M. RICHARDSON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PARASOL-FRAM E.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,354, dated April 8, 1884.

`Improvements in Parasol-Frames, ot' which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is the provision of a parasol or umbrella frame which may be operated to open or close from its outer or upperside, or from the portion which in frames of common 'construction is provided with a Wallraing post and ferrule; and it relates specically to that class of frames which are employed in connection with childrens carriages, although it is not necessarily restricted to such use.

ln the drawings I have represented a good form of a convenient embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 being a view in perspective of the frame when open; Fig. 2, aside elevation of the same when closed; Fig. 3, avertical sectional elevational detail of the sliding stem and thimble, especially illustrative of a convenient method of locking the frame in its open position; and Fig. 4, a perspective detail of the sliding stem and its spherical head.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is athimble or tubular sleeve, through which the sliding stem B is free to travel as within a, slide-bearing. The thimble is conveniently made of the form representedin the drawings-that is to say, saucer-shaped on top-and provided within the saucer with an K annular boss, a, threaded on its peripheral eX- terior. At the base of the thimble is provided a collar, cx, to which the upper extremities of the main ribs C G of the frame are pivoted or connected in any usual or convenient manner.

b is a collar at the lower extremity ofthesliding sten1,to which arepivotally connected, in any usual or suitable manner, the inner extremities of the supplemental ribs D D. The sliding stem is swiveled, as at bx, within the collar b, so that said stem is free to be rotated within said collar. Thesupplemental ribs are pivotally connected by the pivots d to the main ribs at suit-able points about midway of the length of said main ribs after a manner usual in parasol-frames. At its upper extremity the sliding stem yis capped by aspherical or other shaped head, E,which is rigidly affixed thereto, and is provided with an annular socket, c, (clearly shown in Fig. 3,) threaded as to its eX- terior walls correspondingly to the threads upo n the annular boss, about which said socket is adapted to be screwed by the rotation of the head and stern, which rotation the vswivel of the stem permits.

Assuming the thimble to be held iixedly, the frame is either collapsed or expanded, respectively,by the drawing up or by the depression of the sliding stem th rough its thimble. VVheu the stem is depressed until the boss encounters the socket, the rotation of the head and stein,

securing the fixed engagement of the socket.

about the boss, will occasion an extra spread to the main ribs, and therefore impart an additional tension to the fabric on the frame, in addition to fastening the frame in its open position. only a fastening device,but adevice for imparting additional tension to the open parasol.

Other fastening devices may be substituted iu the stead of the boss and socket, although the latter are preferable.

The device may be applied to any suitable supporting-standard sprung from the body of a carriage and overhanging the seat, the application being, if desired, by a ball-and-socket joint in such manner that the parasol-frame, when closed, may be flexed upward and backward, so as to cause the stem and its then-collapsed ribs to assume a horizontal positiouin 4the direction either of the front, back, or sides of the carriage.

The mechanical structure ofthe thimble may, of course, be varied, and the means of pivoting the ribs thereto be such as convenience of manufacture may dictate, while the precise construction of the collar b and the swivel cou.

The socket and boss are therefore not l IOO ble, to the lower portion of which stem are oonneoted the inner ends of the supplemental ribs, and supplemental ribs attached to the stem and to the main ribs, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, to form aparasol-franre which can be opened or closed from the outside, of a thimble or hollow sleeve, to which the upper ends of the main ribs are connected, a sliding stem adapted to slide through the thimble, to the lower portion of which stem are con neoted the inner ends of the supplemental ribs, supplemental ribs attached to the stem and to the main ribs, and means for fiXedly connecting the stem with the thimble, substantially as set forth.

3. As a means for connecting the stem with the thi mhle and for securing additional tension to the expanded frame in aparasol-frame of the class herein recited, the combination of the threaded boss upon the thimble and the threaded socket Connected with the stem, substantially as set forth.

4. rlhe combination of the thimble,the rotatable stem, the main ribs, the supplemental ribs, the boss upon the thimble, and the socket 25 within the head of the stem, substantially as Set forth.

5. In a parasol-frame, the combination of a thimlole, 'main ribs pivoted at their upper eX- tremities to said thimlole and eonneotedinter- 3o inediately of their length to the respective outer extremities of auxiliary ribs, a stem adapted to slide Within said thimble, and auxiliary ribs at their respeotive inner extremities, pivoted to a oollar Carried by `the stem, and within 35 which said stem swivels, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 18th day of January, A. D. 1884.

HENRY M. RICHARDSON. 

